How the kinsfolk of Majnún said to him, “The beauty of Laylá is limited, it is not so very great: in our city there are many fairer than she. We will show unto thee one or two or ten: take thy choice, and deliver us (from reproach) and thyself (from affliction)”; and how Majnún answered them.

ابلهان گفتند مجنون را ز جهل ** حسن لیلی نیست چندان هست سهل

The fools in their ignorance said to Majnún, “The beauty of Laylá is not so very great, it is of slight account.

بهتر از وی صد هزاران دلربا ** هست هم‌چون ماه اندر شهر ما

There are thousands of moon-like sweethearts fairer than she in our city.”

گفت صورت کوزه است و حسن می ** می خدایم می‌دهد از نقش وی

He replied, “The (outward) form is a pot, and beauty is the wine: God is giving me wine from her form.

مر شما را سرکه داد از کوزه‌اش ** تا نباشد عشق اوتان گوش کش

He gave you vinegar from her pot, lest love of her should pull you by the ears.”

از یکی کوزه دهد زهر و عسل ** هر یکی را دست حق عز و جل 3290

The hand of God, the Almighty and Glorious, gives poison or honey to every one from the same pot.

کوزه می‌بینی ولیکن آب شراب ** روی ننماید به چشم ناصواب

Thou seest the pot, but the wine does not show itself to the wrong eye.

قاصرات الطرف باشد ذوق جان ** جز به خصم خود بنماید نشان

Spiritual experience is (like) the women who look modestly: it shows no sign but to its possessor.

قاصرات الطرف آمد آن مدام ** وین حجاب ظرفها هم‌چون خیام

That wine is (like) the women who look modestly, while these vessels screening it (from view) are like the tents.

هست دریا خیمه‌ای در وی حیات ** بط را لیکن کلاغان را ممات

The great river (too) is (like) a tent, wherein is life for the duck, but death for crows.

زهر باشد مار را هم قوت و برگ ** غیر او را زهر او دردست و مرگ 3295

Venom also is the snake's food and provision, (but) its venom is anguish and death to others.

صورت هر نعمتی و محنتی ** هست این را دوزخ آن را جنتی

The form of every blessing and affliction is a Hell to this one, a Paradise to that one.

پس همه اجسام و اشیا تبصرون ** واندرو قوتست و سم لاتبصرون

Therefore (though) ye see all bodies and things, and there is food and poison in them (all)—ye see (it) not.

هست هر جسمی چو کاسه و کوزه‌ای ** اندرو هم قوت و هم دلسوزه‌ای

Every body resembles a bowl or a pot, wherein is both food and a (cause of) heart-burning.

کاسه پیدا اندرو پنهان رغد ** طاعمش داند کزان چه می‌خورد

The bowl is visible, the plenty (contained) in it is hidden: (only) he who tastes it (the contents) knows what he is eating or drinking from it.

صورت یوسف چو جامی بود خوب ** زان پدر می‌خورد صد باده‌ی طروب 3300

The form of Joseph was like a beauteous cup: from it his father drank a hundred exhilarating wines.

باز اخوان را از آن زهراب بود ** کان دریشان خشم و کینه می‌فزود

Again, to his brethren (the draught they took) from it was poisoned water which was increasing in them anger and hatred.

باز از وی مر زلیخا را سکر ** می‌کشید از عشق افیونی دگر

Again, to Zalíkhá (the draught she took) from it was (sweet as) sugar: she was quaffing a different opiate from (the hand of) Love.

غیر آنچ بود مر یعقوب را ** بود از یوسف غذا آن خوب را

The nutriment which came from Joseph to that fair one was other than that which came to Jacob.

گونه‌گونه شربت و کوزه یکی ** تا نماند در می غیبت شکی

The sherbets are various, but the pot is one, in order that no doubt may remain in thee concerning the wine of the Unseen.

باده از غیبست و کوزه زین جهان ** کوزه پیدا باده در وی بس نهان 3305

The wine belongs to the Unseen, the pot to this world: the pot is apparent, the wine in it is very hidden:

بس نهان از دیده‌ی نامحرمان ** لیک بر محرم هویدا و عیان

Very hidden from the eyes of the uninitiated, but manifest and evident to the adept.

یا الهی سکرت ابصارنا ** فاعف عنا اثقلت اوزارنا

O my God, our eyes have been intoxicated. Forgive us: our burdens have been made heavy.

یا خفیا قد ملات الخافقین ** قد علوت فوق نور المشرقین

O concealed One who hast filled (the world) from East to West (with Thy radiance) and art exalted above the light of the Orient and the Occident,